Karagwe Senior Citizens Solicit for Monthly Pension
SENIOR citizens in Karagwe district have
advised that the new Constitution should specifically include the rights
for elderly people, including getting monthly pensions in appreciation
for their long contribution to the country's development.
Mr Clement Nsherenguzi (79) from Kishao village in Karagwe district told this paper that the elderly people also want the new constitution to have a clause that allows them to have free medical services at government owned health centers. The senior citizens also want the new constitution to have a clause giving protection to elderly people to protect them from killings linked to witchcraft beliefs.
He noted that a recent survey revealed that only four per cent of senior citizens in Tanzania enjoyed a monthly pension because most of them were former government employees, while 96 per cent were left on the wayside as they were never employed in public service.
"The new constitution should address the rights for elderly people by providing them with a monthly pension to enable them spend their remaining years comfortably" he said. Meanwhile, A Non-Governmental Organization- "Kwa Wazee", has taken a holistic approach by giving a monthly pension to over 1,000 elderly people and 600 children living under vulnerable condition in Muleba district.
The Project Officer, Ms Revina Jonas, said the NGO was supporting a total of 1,057 elderly people by providing them with a monthly pension of 15,000/-. "The elderly people have been able to construct decent houses and can now afford to buy food and other essential items," she said.
She further elaborated that a total of 628 children were being supported by getting a monthly income of 6,000/- each. Also, the NGO was paying school fees and uniforms for them, she said.
She appealed to other NGOs to borrow a leaf from them as the number of orphans and street children was increasing rapidly. The head office of the NGO is based in Nshamba Ward, in Muleba district. She disclosed that the project was being funded by several international NGOs, including Swiss-based "Kwa Wazee", World Granny, Firelight and Help Age International.
Mr Clement Nsherenguzi (79) from Kishao village in Karagwe district told this paper that the elderly people also want the new constitution to have a clause that allows them to have free medical services at government owned health centers. The senior citizens also want the new constitution to have a clause giving protection to elderly people to protect them from killings linked to witchcraft beliefs.
He noted that a recent survey revealed that only four per cent of senior citizens in Tanzania enjoyed a monthly pension because most of them were former government employees, while 96 per cent were left on the wayside as they were never employed in public service.
"The new constitution should address the rights for elderly people by providing them with a monthly pension to enable them spend their remaining years comfortably" he said. Meanwhile, A Non-Governmental Organization- "Kwa Wazee", has taken a holistic approach by giving a monthly pension to over 1,000 elderly people and 600 children living under vulnerable condition in Muleba district.
The Project Officer, Ms Revina Jonas, said the NGO was supporting a total of 1,057 elderly people by providing them with a monthly pension of 15,000/-. "The elderly people have been able to construct decent houses and can now afford to buy food and other essential items," she said.
She further elaborated that a total of 628 children were being supported by getting a monthly income of 6,000/- each. Also, the NGO was paying school fees and uniforms for them, she said.
She appealed to other NGOs to borrow a leaf from them as the number of orphans and street children was increasing rapidly. The head office of the NGO is based in Nshamba Ward, in Muleba district. She disclosed that the project was being funded by several international NGOs, including Swiss-based "Kwa Wazee", World Granny, Firelight and Help Age International.
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